President Joe Biden’s interview on ABC has done little to dissuade calls for him to drop out of the race, with one anonymous Democratic donor comparing him to his grandfather.
Biden’s ability to fulfill his role as president has been under intense scrutiny since his disastrous first presidential debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump last month.
Despite assurances from the 81-year-old commander-in-chief during the taped interview with George Stephanopoulos, more party members and donors have begun to demand that he be replaced as presidential candidate.
An anonymous Democratic donor described the pre-planned interview as a “huge missed opportunity” and noted that Biden “is going down like Davy Crockett.”
Crockett, also known as the King of the Wild Frontier, participated in the Texas Revolution in 1836 and died against the Mexican army as a last stand.
Despite assurances from the 81-year-old president during the taped interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, more party members and donors have begun to demand that he be replaced as the presidential candidate.
“The question is when and how (referring to Vice President Kamala Harris taking Biden’s place). The reaction is abysmal, but several donors I know have not yet seen it,” he told the BBC. Daily Beast.
After the interview aired, another anonymous Democratic donor told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein how much Biden reminded him of his grandfather.
I would sum this all up by saying that it wasn’t as bad as the debate, but it had some very alarming moments that didn’t help.
“It reminded me a lot of when my grandfather refused to accept that he was no longer allowed to drive and that everyone except him knew about it.”
After the interview aired, another anonymous Democratic donor told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein how much Biden reminded him of his grandfather.
One House Democrat also told NBC’s Julie Tsirkin that the interview made him “sad” and that he plans to speak soon.
“It made me sad. I am completely out of touch with reality and isolated from the truth. I will soon break my silence,” she posted on X.
These anonymous statements of lack of confidence in Biden come as Senator Mark R. Warner has reportedly begun telling people that he no longer trusts the president due to his faltering performance of late. Washington Post reports.
The stalemate has led to Biden dropping out of the race, but he has so far remained steadfast in his commitment to run. Looking ahead, a senior Democratic adviser said ABC News that the president should “prepare for a wild week.”
One House Democrat also told NBC’s Julie Tsirkin that the interview made them “sad” and that they plan to speak soon.
His dogged determination has many Democrats concerned, apparently including Warner, who is gathering a group of allies to call on him to resign, according to two sources who spoke to the Washington Post.
Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is the minority leader, has scheduled a virtual meeting on Sunday with senior House Democrats to discuss the president’s nomination, senior sources told The New York Times.
The meeting will reportedly include top members of congressional committees who have expressed concern about Biden’s chances in recent weeks.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas was the first to call for Biden to drop out of the race after the debate and reiterated his demand Friday.
“The need for him to step aside is more urgent tonight than when I first called for it on Tuesday,” he told CNN after the interview.
He added that Biden “doesn’t want his legacy to be that he was the one who handed our country over to a tyrant.”
Along with Doggett and Quigley, House Reps. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts have called for Biden to withdraw.
Ahead of Biden’s interview on Friday, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey urged the president to “listen to the American people and carefully assess whether he remains our best hope for defeating Donald Trump.”
“Regardless of what President Biden decides, I am committed to doing everything in my power to defeat Donald Trump,” she added.
Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley and Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett renewed their calls for Biden to resign after the ABC interview